Three Years Later, He Came Back Begging novel Chapter 436

In late July, Bonnie safely delivered a healthy baby boy weighing six pounds, eight ounces. A lucky number. She hadn't felt that the pregnancy was particularly agonizing, and thanks to the epidural, the delivery went relatively smoothly. Aside from the unavoidable contractions early on, the rest of the process passed in a painless, drug-induced haze. The doctors and nurses all agreed that the little guy was an absolute angel for going so easy on his mother. Lawrence was in the delivery room the entire time. He even cut the umbilical cord himself. While Bonnie hadn't shed a single tear during the birth, Lawrence's eyes had been continuously glassy. Right before she started pushing, Bonnie had been cracking jokes, teasing that she was definitely going to have a girl just to mess with him. Lawrence hadn't found it funny at all. He had pressed his forehead against hers, fiercely whispering for her not to jinx anything and that this would be their only child. His absolute terror had left Bonnie holding back a laugh, and even the medical staff had been grinning. But when the pushing actually started, Lawrence's anxiety skyrocketed. He tried desperately to hide it so he wouldn't stress her out, but Bonnie could feel his hands shaking. His entire body was trembling. She hadn't had the energy to comfort him then; she was entirely focused on getting the baby out. It felt as if the universe had decided they had suffered enough in their past and finally granted them a break. The delivery was textbook perfect. But the moment their son was born, the sound of Lawrence's choked sob echoed in her ears. He really is a crybaby, she thought with a tired, affectionate smile. The private hospital offered premium care, so before Lawrence could properly break down, the doctor guided him to cut the cord. Bonnie lay there, her face pale and exhausted, but her eyes held a profound, liquid warmth. She looked at her husband, and then at her son. These were the two people she was permanently, inextricably tied to for the rest of her life. One held her heart; the other shared her blood. In that exact moment, the primal, fierce bond of motherhood slammed into her. Looking at that tiny, fragile life, she silently promised him the world. She wanted him to be happy, healthy, and never taste the bitterness the world had to offer.

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For the little guy the whole family had anticipated for ten long months, naming him had become a massive undertaking. Since they hadn't known the gender beforehand, all four grandparents, plus Lawrence and Bonnie, had prepared two names each. Once the baby was born, it went to a family vote. The winner was Shirley, the veteran literature teacher. Hayden Lane. She had chosen a name that symbolized a life of peace, leisure, and quiet contentment. Little Hayden was born wrinkled and red, making it impossible to tell who he looked like. He spent his days eating, sleeping, and basking in the sunlight that streamed through the windows. Oh, and crying at the top of his lungs. During Bonnie's postpartum recovery, they had a professional care team handling the heavy lifting. Since the four grandparents couldn't do much hands-on care, they crowded around the crib, fiercely debating who the baby resembled. Odette and Shirley insisted he looked like Bonnie, while Carl and Bachelor demanded to know how they could possibly see that. To the men, all newborns looked exactly the same. Bonnie secretly agreed with her father and father-in-law. When the grandparents finally left, she laid on her side, studying her son's tiny face, trying to find traces of herself or Lawrence. After ten minutes of staring, she gave up. Lawrence walked out of the en-suite bathroom, smelling of fresh soap, and spooned her from behind. Together, they admired the absolute cuteness of their tiny human. Neither could tell who he took after. Bonnie played with Lawrence's long fingers, his wedding band cool against her skin. She turned her head, her eyes bright as she looked at him. "I hope he takes after you."